NEWS

Sizzling Summer Toys Based on Blockbuster Movies

May 30, 2014 | Blockbuster movies are a summertime staple, and 2014 is no exception. From action-packed adventures to family-friendly animated features, a variety of flicks – and related toys and games – will be rolling out over the next few months to the delight of movie fans of all ages.

“Hotly anticipated movies like this summer’s Planes: Fire and Rescue, Godzilla and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles add excitement and fuel consumer desire for licensed action figures, role play costumes and other playthings that bring all of the action and drama from the big screen into the playroom,” said Adrienne Appell, Toy Industry Association (TIA) trend expert.

The following are a few examples of this summer’s hottest movies and related product that will appeal to boys and girls of all ages … as well as a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2015.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May 2014)The summer movie season kicked off in early May with the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Role-play toys with tie-ins to the movie include:

Maleficent (May 2014)Based on Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent re-tells the classic tale from the point of view of the “Mistress of All Evil” who puts a curse on Princess Aurora. The dolls and costumes listed here allow children to act out the spooky tale at home:

Transformers: Age of Extinction (June 2014)Transformers fans of all ages will flock to theatres this summer to see the latest live-action film based on the decades-long franchise. Transformers: Age of Extinction toys include:

2015 MoviesExperts predict that 2015 will be another strong year for toys tied to movies. Movies slated for release next year include: Spongebob Squarepants 2 (February 2015), a live action version of Cinderella (March 2015), Penguins of Madagascar (March 2015), Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 2015), Jurassic World (June 2015), Smurfs 3 (August 2015), Peanuts (November 2015), and Star Wars Episode VII (December 2015), among many more.

“Very successful licenses will see product on the shelves long after the screen goes dark,” said Appell. Frozen, released in late 2013, is the perfect example: “The toys are still flying off the shelves.”